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To Feed a Nation

 J.M. Syken

Course Outline

Through the viewing of several archival/documentary films produced in the 1920s/30s/40s/50s/60s, we will examine the history and development of the agricultural industry in the United States. This will include both crop and livestock cultivation and land use problems/solutions relevant to agriculture.

Furthermore, we will examine the science of agronomy and the background/history of the Land Grant Colleges whereby agricultural science is taught. We will also examine the beneficial affects of rural electrification, flood control etc. and the scientific efforts made to control adverse effects of weeds and/or insects and crops and livestock.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended for architects, engineers and other design professionals.

Benefit to Attendees

The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into the background, history, development, innovations, technologies etc. of the agricultural industry.

Course Introduction

The course incorporates the viewing of several archival/documentary films broken down as follows;

Part 1 examines the development of the agricultural industry in providing food for the nation.. Part 2 examines the effects of unenlightened farming/grazing on the land and remediation. Part 3 examines the establishment and purpose of the Land Grant Agriculture and Mechanics (A&M) Colleges Part 4 examines the cultivation and harvest of livestock for both meat and/or dairy products. Part 5 examines cultivation of cash crops and planting of grass for soil renewal and/or grazing. Part 6 examines the beneficial effects of rural electrification to farm productivity and farm family life. Part 7 examines the problem/s of pests including weeds, rodents, insects, etc. and proactive measures being taken to resolve the problem/s.

Course Content

Part 1 – Industry Overview;
TITLE: Miracles From Agriculture (1960)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/Miracles1960
DURATION: 13:17
Part 2 – Heritage of the Land;
TITLE: A Heritage We Guard (1940)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/6133_Heritage_We_Guard_A_00_27_54_00
DURATION: 28:16
TITLE: Valley of the Tennessee (1944)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.fdr.353.3.3
DURATION: 28:59
TITLE: The Plow that Broke the Plains (1937)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.13595
DURATION: 25:23
Part 3 – Agricultural Science and Education;
TITLE: Waves of Green (1960)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/0546_Waves_of_Green_07_21_43_20
DURATION: 38:07
Part 4 – Livestock Cultivation/Harvest;
TITLE: Home on the Range (ca.1942)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/Homeonth1942
DURATION: 10:08
TITLE: Meats With Approval (1946)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/MeatsWit1946
DURATION: 15:35
TITLE: When the Cows Come Home (ca.1930)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/6134_When_the_Cows_Come_Home_00_36_41_00
DURATION: 10:33
TITLE: Sheep (1954)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/sheep_1954
DURATION: 24:34
TITLE: Duck Farming (ca.1920s)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/Duck_Farming
DURATION: 14:06
Part 5 – Crop Cultivation/Harvest;
TITLE: King Cotton (1939)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/king_cotton
DURATION: 16:09
TITLE: Grass: The Big Story (ca.1960)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/6040_Grass_The_Big_Story_01_24_49_00
DURATION: 29:27
TITLE: Science and Agriculture: The Soy Bean (1939)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/ScienceAndAg
DURATION: 10:35
TITLE: Apples: From Seedling to Market (1950)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/0658_Apples_From_Seedling_to_Market_07_43_17_00
DURATION: 10:31
Part 6 – Rural Electrification;
TITLE: Power and the Land (1940)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.fdr.352.2a.3
DURATION: 28:08
Part 7 – Pest Control;
TITLE: Who Shall Reap? (1969)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/WhoShall1969
DURATION: 28:02
TITLE: Agricultural Aviation (1955)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/Agricult1955
DURATION: 09:41

Course Summary

The need for food and shelter is as old as man himself. As humans evolved from hunter/gatherers, the first plows broke the earth, seeds were planted and, in time, the harvest was gathered. The first farmers were subsistence farmers, but with greater knowledge of the land, technological improvements (i.e. the cotton gin), by the 20th Century farmers were able to feed the towns and cities that surrounded them. So too, the hard life of the farmer was eased by electrification and mechanization and the scourge of weeds and insects that ruined the farmer’s crop was being scientifically explored and mitigated in whole or part. The detrimental practices of previous generations of farmers that caused erosion and turned soil to dust were recognized and the sound science and education of Agronomy took their place. To feed a nation remains a high calling for both the land and the farmer.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Agronomy

http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Agriculture

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.